Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The Leatherman Juice XE6 is at best a compromise, at worst a bit of disappointment. I have used mine for about 6 months now and most of the time it serves me very well but there are some elements of the design that make me search for different tool to do a job I ought to be able to do with the XE6. I'll list the things that annoy me, anything I don't mention you can assume lives up to the claims in the promotional literature.
First off, the pliers: The jaw design is functional and the jaws seem pretty tough but you'll not get to push them to their limit since the axle they are mounted on doesn't seem up to the job. When you squeeze hard on the handles they flex slightly where they join the jaws. This means when you squeeze the pliers on something thin the handles touch together in the middle (specifically the top of the file and the top of the saw make contact). Often when gripping small things I want to squeeze the handles harder to get a better grip, but it doesn't achieve much because I am already making the handles touch in the middle and also I'm scared of damaging the mounting of the jaws.
Second the scissors: They are sharp but some element in the design means they don't cut very well towards the tip of the blade, even when cutting easy things like thin paper. I think the blades simply meet at an angle too close to parallel, in essence they have tried to incorporate too much blade into the short length and not made the handle long enough. The scissors on standard Victorinox Swiss Army Knives are better.
Third the corkscrew: This is a bit of a joke really, the levering `assist' mechanism puts pressure on the top of a wine bottle using a single edge of metal about a millimeter thick. I used this for a while but after it cracked lumps of glass off the top of a couple of bottles I gave up and resorted to brute force and pulling the corks out using the screw alone. Being used to removing corks in this manner using a Swiss army knife I don't find the level of force needed much of a problem, but there are further faults with the Leatherman's corkscrew; the screw itself is quite short and narrow, it works fine on artificial corks but it often tears traditional corks in half leaving the other end still in the neck of the bottle.
Lastly a minor point on ergonomics: The screwdriver blades are made to be levered out with your thumbnail. The length of the screwdriver blades means that if you lever one out quickly with your thumb the end of the driver is likely to make quite hard contact with the flesh of your thumb just below the nail. The screw driver blades are sharp enough to cut you quite easily. I have got used to opening the screw drivers without cutting myself but believe me, if you use one you will likely suffer the same minor injuries at some point during use.
This may read like a rather scathing review but bare in mind I have only mentioned the things that disappointed me. Just about everything else is great. The blades are great the file and saw are great. The screw drivers are very high quality. Everything is bundled together into a very compact package and very attractively finished. When closed all the lines and edges are smooth making the tool suitable for carrying in a pocket or bag. There are some very nice touches to the design like a series of small ridges near the base on the back of the serrated blade so you can identify which blade is which without opening them.
Overall I am still pleased with the tool, but I was disappointed by the week feeling pliers and the scissors that are frankly just badly designed.
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Product Description:
With a slightly thicker chassis than the Cs4 and Kf4, and protected by purple anodized aluminum handles, the Xe6 has it all. Along with pliers, wire cutters and four screwdrivers, the Xe6 contains a saw, awl and diamond-coated file. It provides a choice of straight or serrated knife blades. The Xe6 also houses easily accessible serrated scissors, plus a corkscrew, can and bottle opener, as well as a lanyard attachment. Powerful but still compact, the Xe6 will conquer most any task in a flash. The Xe6 is covered by Leatherman's 25-year warranty.Length: 3.2 in. / 8.25 cm closed; Weight: 6.8 ounces / 190 grams; Materials: Stainless steel with anodized aluminum scales
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